Why is my Cat always Hungry? Diagnosing your Cats Eating

Why is my cat always hungry? Could it be an indication of a more serious issue? These are common questions we hear from concerned pet owners all the time. Changes in food intake can be caused by a variety of culprits, some are more serious than others. Today, we'll look at some of the reasons that might cause your cat to eat more than normal.

Why Is My Cat Always Hungry? What You Need to Know

To help you root out the cause of your kitty's eating troubles, we'll describe some of the common signs of each condition we describe throughout this article. All you'll need is:

Your cat

An internet-capable device (to view further tutorials, guides, and information as you go along)

We'll examine the primary causes of overeating in cats, how to recognize them, and what you can do about them. We've also included links to several invaluable instructional videos about the issues that may be affecting your cat.

Diagnosing Your Cat's Eating Problem: Step by Step

Let's examine the most common reasons why cats eat more than they should. While we don't have the time or the room to discuss every possible reason, but chances are, one of the following issues is what's making you scratch your head and ask yourself, "Why is my cat always hungry?"

Your Cat Might Have Worms

If you've been wondering "why is my cat always hungry" for a while now, your feline friend may have gotten roundworms. A roundworm infestation can steal all of your cat's food before its body can absorb any of the nutrients.

Sadly, cats who are infested with roundworms often look swollen or fat, which means the problem can often go unrecognized. What's worse, these worms are highly contagious to humans.

For more warning signs that your cat may have roundworms, check out this tutorial video.

If you think your cat may have roundworms, your vet will likely ask you to bring in a fecal sample for laboratory analysis.

Your Cat May Be Suffering from Feline Diabetes or Hyperthyroidism

Feline diabetes and hyperthyroidism can both cause a massive increase in your cat's appetite, but for different reasons. In the case of hyperthyroidism, your cat is burning calories too quickly; with diabetes, your cat's body is unable to convert sugar into the energy and nutrition your cat needs.

The most likely sign that your cat has hyperthyroidism is if it is eating a lot, but still losing weight. Excessive water intake can also be a sign. In either instance you should take your cat to the vet as quickly as you can.

The veterinary informational video on hyperthyroidism and diabetes can help you to understand some of the warning signs that your cat might have hyperthyroidism, and might help you answer the question, "Why is my cat always hungry?" once and for all.

Your Cat May Be Experiencing Boredom, Loneliness, or Depression

Boredom probably doesn't seem like a likely answer to the question "why is my cat always hungry", but evidence suggests that cats who lack their desired level of stimulation may turn to overeating, just like humans. Gradual weight gain is one of the common indications of overeating caused by an emotional issue (water intake usually will not increase in these instance).

Cats experience a whole range of emotions, just like we do. Some cats even suffer from depression, separation anxiety, and loneliness.

This video will teach you some of the basic warning signs of feline depression.

Some of these conditions can be treated by simply spending more time with your cat, or providing it with more toys and activities to stimulate their brain. Others may require either dietary changes, or in some cases, prescription drugs.

Your Cat's Food Might Not Be Providing Adequate Nutrition

The last reason we'd like to discuss is that your cat's food might not be delivering the proper nutrition your cat needs to thrive. It might sound simple, but it may be the answer to your query, "Why is my cat always hungry?"

Cat's nutritional needs change as they age, so it might be time to switch the food you're buying your pet. We know how difficult it can be to convince cat's to eat a different brand of food, but it could make a world of difference when it comes to overeating vs. eating a more "normal" amount of food.

If you're not sure what kind of food your cat should be eating, or you're looking for a new "go-to" brand, we think that you'll benefit greatly from checking out this handy guide provided by Ian Shoust.

When nothing seems to work, you may want to get your pet's advice regarding food. Even though a specialty food might be harder to find or cost more money, it might be necessary to provide your pets with the nutrients, protein, and calories that they need.

Conclusion

We began today's article by addressing about a common concern among cat owners: why is my cat always hungry? By now, we hope we've helped you find what's responsible (or at least that we've helped you narrow down your list of suspects). While the health conditions, nutritional needs, and parasites we've discussed make up the majority of overeating cases, there are still many possible reasons why your cat is always hungry.

If you're still wondering, "Why is my cat always hungry," you may need to seek professional veterinary help if the problem is persistent. Either way, we hope that you get your feline friend feeling better again as quickly as you can!

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Disclaimer

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